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btk6al | how exactly do you "bombard" an atom in a nuclear reaction? | Say you want to make a fission reaction, how exactly do you launch a neutron toward this atom to split it? Which device do you use?
I am not sure if you launch another atom or just a neutron. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/btk6al/eli5_how_exactly_do_you_bombard_an_atom_in_a/ | {
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"In a nuclear reactor there are lots and lots of neutrons pinging about. They're being fired off by the radioactive decay of the fuel in all directions. To start a nuclear reactor, neutron sources are us... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_generator"
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1mt0h2 | why does someone need to 'come out'? and why isn't there an equivalent term for heterosexuals? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1mt0h2/eli5why_does_someone_need_to_come_out_and_why/ | {
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"because everybody assumes that you're straight, so you need to announce that you are gay\n\nthis is... not a complex concept",
"Homosexuals are still badly persecuted in most cultures and are in a f... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation"
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3aaegk | are air molecules actually transparent? | we all know air molecules are too small to see... But in life usually we observe if something individually is to small to see, and you gather it in the tens of thousands... You end up with and object of some sort that is physically observable to see....why is this not our experience with air? This concept always has ev... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3aaegk/eli5are_air_molecules_actually_transparent/ | {
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"because air is not dense enough to be physically observed. There is a lot of space between air molecules.\n\nIf you were to compress air to a great enough degree it would start to take the appearance of something, depending... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Liquid_oxygen"
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7edtrz | why do companies (google, apple, etc.) that have billions of dollars worth of debt not pay it off when they have the money for it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7edtrz/eli5_why_do_companies_google_apple_etc_that_have/ | {
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493g61 | why isn’t sampling fair use? | Please explain this to me.
I'm talking about why when you sample a song, rework it into another song, why you have to pay fees and royalties, before you can sell the song.
Yet YouTubers can use clips of films in their videos and still monazite it without having to ask for permission.
I feel like they're the same thi... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/493g61/eli5why_isnt_sampling_fair_use/ | {
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"Fair use is sort of a nebulous concept. It's not strictly defined in law whether something is fair use or not, it's just a defense in court. So it's only fair use if you can convince a judge that it should be fair use.\n\nTh... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3dcvk4 | how do radio waves travel through deep space without being disrupted? | title | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dcvk4/eli5_how_do_radio_waves_travel_through_deep_space/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"It's actually the ideal scenario. Physicists like to imagine radio waves travelling through empty space without gravity, other waves, something in the medium, etc. altering them somehow. The issue is picking them out after t... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | |
2cfwba | what happened to all the white/light colored asphalt roads? is there something different in the way roads are made now? | As a little kid in the early 80's, I used to see roads where the asphalt was almost white in color (this was in Florida). The surface was so light that they would paint the white dotted lines with black between the white sections to make them stand out.
In the late 80's that section of road was resurfaced with fresh,... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2cfwba/eli5what_happened_to_all_the_whitelight_colored/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjf1qoi",
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"text": [
"I could be wrong but it's most likely that the dark color has faded from sun exposure. ",
"Asphalt is composed of \"aggregate\" which is a mix of gravel and sand that is stuck together with tarry petroleum stuff. \n\nPa... | [] | [
"http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/06jul/images/morena10.jpg"
] | [
[],
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"http://asphaltnews.com/common_problems.htm"
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610y9n | why aren't sodas sold in variety packs? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/610y9n/eli5_why_arent_sodas_sold_in_variety_packs/ | {
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"If you really wanted cola and orange you would buy both. If manufacturers mixed the packs people may only buy one 6 pack of mixed instead of 2 packs of 6. This would lead to people buying and drinking less soda which the big corporations couldn'... | [] | [] | [
[]
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38j92u | if copper is self sterilizing, why doesn't every hospital make door handles, and other frequently touched objects, with it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38j92u/eli5_if_copper_is_self_sterilizing_why_doesnt/ | {
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"Because copper oxidizes ... | [] | [] | [
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"http://antimicrobialcopper.com/us/news-center/news/chilean-pediatric-hospital-installs-antimicrobial-copper.aspx",
"http://www... | ||
2evs4c | the internet situation in america | why is it so bad according to the commons? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2evs4c/eli5_the_internet_situation_in_america/ | {
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"text": [
"America has so few companies offering internet service that there isn't much competition. Because companies like Comcast and TWC don't really have to worry about a competitor poaching customers through superior service (eith... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3wliuf | what is the difference between a cheap speaker and an expensive speaker? if speakers are very simple machines, why do decent ones end up costing hundreds of dollars? | There are only 4 basic parts to a speaker (magnet, voice coil, cone, and enclosure/support.) The principle has been around for quite some time, and as far as electronic devices go, speakers are pretty simple.
But you can tell the difference between a cheap $30 speaker and an expensive name brand speaker.
What make... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wliuf/eli5what_is_the_difference_between_a_cheap/ | {
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"text": [
"First, quality materials mean quality components. Crappy magnets, badly-coiled, well, coils, bad wires and soldering joints and cabinets made out of particle board will not only produce poorer sound, but will also not last v... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
j2g6s | li5 - why does most of america have a huge 'car-culture' and other nations have 'rail-culture'? | I know there's lots of 'interests' and 'lobbyists' but Highways were a public project... did they rip up the Rail lines or have they been mostly untouched / decayed with lack of use?
Other countries have bullet trains and more rail lines... how did either country type end up where they are? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/j2g6s/li5_why_does_most_of_america_have_a_huge/ | {
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"text": [
"America is very spread out. We have rail networks but they are outdated and as expensive and slower than using yo... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_American_streetcar_scandal"
],
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_dream",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wi... | |
bcmwt4 | life expectancy of different organisms | My understanding is that generally larger organisms tend to live longer due to their slower metabolism. Is metabolism the only thing that comes in play? For example a Galapagos tortoise lives a hundred plus years and weighs a couple hundred pounds whereas a pig ways a couple hundred pounds and would only live a decade ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bcmwt4/eli5_life_expectancy_of_different_organisms/ | {
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"text": [
"_URL_0_\n\nI found this article really interesting. Thought you might like it, too :)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12877984"
]
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3jiq4q | why do "name brand" grocery items like milk and butter cost more than their generic counterparts when they usually come from the same producer? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jiq4q/eli5_why_do_name_brand_grocery_items_like_milk/ | {
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"text": [
"Name brand products have increased cost due to promotional advertising, packaging, design, all sorts of stuff. Generic counterparts don't have to pay nearly as much for those sorts of things. \n\nStores offer both for more freedom and range in ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6jfbf4 | why does waking up during a thunderstorm feel so cozy? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6jfbf4/eli5why_does_waking_up_during_a_thunderstorm_feel/ | {
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"text": [
"Probably because we are trained from years of evolution to seek shelter during large storms. And when you awaken inside safe shelter under a warm blanket you suddenly feel at ease....",
"It probably is because you and y... | [] | [] | [
[],
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64y21u | how do condoms break through sex sometimes but you can pour pounds of water into one and it doesn't break ? | How do condoms not break when he does [this](_URL_0_) but break sometimes during sex ? Is it because of the friction ? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/64y21u/eli5_how_do_condoms_break_through_sex_sometimes/ | {
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" Different kind of frictions. Also, oil based things (baby oil, some massage oils, certain foods like chocolate sauce, some whipped creams- anything oil based) weakens latex which can make them break ... | [] | [
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59L51yWUFiQ"
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[],
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] | |
8t88jc | why does art usually face left? | I'm learning to draw, and I've noticed a lot of figures are placed on the right of a canvas, and faced left. I tried flipping the images horizontally, and I find my focus shifts awkwardly. Is there a reason that makes this style more common?
EDIT: For clarity, I'm not asking about how being right handed makes it easie... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8t88jc/eli5_why_does_art_usually_face_left/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"It’s more common because the subjects face the light. The light in studios usually comes from the artists’ left (because it was easier for right handed people to work and see their work if their hand wasn’t casting a shadow). It outside, artists ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1su81u | in the animal kingdom males are usually adorned in a physical way to attract women. why is it the opposite in humans? | In most of nature female are the selectors and males have handicapping physical characteristics.
In humans it is the opposite. Does this mean when it comes to human mating men are the selectors? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1su81u/eli5_in_the_animal_kingdom_males_are_usually/ | {
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"text": [
"Men have plenty of visual characteristics. Chest hair, for example. Reproductively speaking humans are relatively equal, as are most primates.",
"Humans are herd/social animals. If you look at anim... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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] | |
2z7wcx | can you permanently lose feeling in your arm after sleeping on it? | Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with my arm in an odd position, when I move it, it feels limp and numb. Once I've moved it I can feel the blood rushing back into my arm!
If I slept on it for a really long time, would the circulation just stop? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2z7wcx/eli5_can_you_permanently_lose_feeling_in_your_arm/ | {
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"The circulation doesn't stop unless your heart isn't beating or you have something clogging the pipes.\n\nIf you put enough pressure on your arm then yes there would no longer be circulation, this is se... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compartment_syndrome"
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2lwq4g | net netraulity, how is charging netflix more for their bandwidth any different than me being charged for more bandwidth? | my ISP charges me different rates based on how fast I want to download and upload things. Is this not what the ISP is trying to do with huge data providers like Netflix?
As an end user, my business with my ISP has always been, "you want more speed, pay us more". I thought even Netflix had to abide by this model...
W... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lwq4g/eli5_net_netraulity_how_is_charging_netflix_more/ | {
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"text": [
"Netflix does pay their own service providers for their transmission. Net neutrality issues come up [when ISPs want to charge Netflix to deliver messages Netflix already paid to send and customers paid to have delivered](_URL... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAxMyTwmu_M&list=UUOGeU-1Fig3rrDjhm9Zs_wg"
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3sgx77 | is inflation ever going to stop? will chocolate bars that cost $1.50 today cost $1000 someday? | Even in the last 10 years I've seen many prices inflate almost 50%. Is inflation constant and never ending? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3sgx77/eli5_is_inflation_ever_going_to_stop_will/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"You’re confusing price *movements* with price *inflation*. There has not been 50% inflation in the last ten years (at least, not in the developed countries), but the prices of some goods rice and fall more erratically becau... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
359rgr | inertia in space | In space, do larger objects require more energy/force to be moved/change their direction. Comparing the apollo capsule to the space shuttle. The space shuttle could only enter low earth orbit and wasn't capable of going further (i.e) to the moon. Did the space shuttle require more force to change direction because it w... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/359rgr/eli5_inertia_in_space/ | {
"a_id": [
"cr2czda"
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2
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"text": [
"The basic principle of Force = Mass x Acceleration applies here. The heavier your object, the more force needs to be applied to make it change its velocity in any way (be it slowing down, speeding up, or changing directions). Kinetic energy, the ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1j8ce8 | reddit lingo | Such as DM;SP... I cannot think of others, but feel free to add to the list. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1j8ce8/eli5_reddit_lingo/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbc4a69",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"TL;DR = Too long, Didn't Read\n\nDM;HS = Doesn't Matter, Had Sex\n\nTIFU = Today I Fucked Up\n\nAMA = Ask Me Anything\n\nYSK = You Should Know\n\nLPT = Life Pro-Tip",
"TL;DR - \"too long; didn't read\"- when someone type... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5xljj2 | what is the advantage of doctors wearing lab coats in hospitals and clinics? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5xljj2/eli5_what_is_the_advantage_of_doctors_wearing_lab/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"When kids barf it doesn't get on their clothes, and it looks more professional than scrubs. Big handy pockets are also great for women doctors because women's clothes don't have pockets.",
"It serves as a kind of unifor... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
3z0jte | couldn't you just get around the berlin wall by going to the countryside? | I know this sounds silly but the wall is only so long and surely you could get outside the city in the eastern half and cross elsewhere. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3z0jte/eli5_couldnt_you_just_get_around_the_berlin_wall/ | {
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"text": [
"The Berlin Wall entirely surrounded West Berlin. It didn't just divide Berlin in two. Berlin was deep inside Eastern Germany. ",
"Berlin was deep in East Germany. West Berlin was a small enclave ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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] | |
6ed4h4 | why do animal brains tend to operate far more efficiently than even the best computers? | Brains occupy a low volume and use very little energy compared to computers. How is this possible? What's preventing computers from becoming more efficient than the brain? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ed4h4/eli5_why_do_animal_brains_tend_to_operate_far/ | {
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"text": [
"Brains are better than computers at complex, abstract things like pattern recognition. Computers are better than brains at logical tasks, like calculating t... | [] | [] | [
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apvp86 | can 2 light skinned people have a baby that is darker then both of them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/apvp86/eli5_can_2_light_skinned_people_have_a_baby_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"egbh0tj"
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"text": [
"If there is darker skin somewhere in your immediate family then it is possible. Kind of like how some people are born with red hair or blue eyes even if their parents don’t"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4cwa94 | how does a mechanical watch know how many days there are in a month? and what about february? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4cwa94/eli5_how_does_a_mechanical_watch_know_how_many/ | {
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"text": [
"A basic mechanical watch with just a day of month counter will generally assume that there are 31 days in a month and will have to be manually reset on the... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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"http://www.iwc.com/en/experiences/flying-high-with-big-date-and-month-displays/"
],
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"http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/how-does-perpetual-calendar-work-191633.html"
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1ks4tr | divorce rates | Okay, everyone always says half of all marriages end in divorce.
1. I always assumed they were talking about the US, but never verified it because
2. ...I've never seen the citation for this statistic.
3. Here's my big question. Only people who get divorced remarry. People who don't ever divorce can't. How much of ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ks4tr/eli5_divorce_rates/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Half of all marriages, you are on the right track. Well fewer than half of all people end up divorced, because you have the Donald Trumps of the world getting married six or seven times driving up percentage. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
f0jqkf | why do 1 in 3 americans have high blood pressure? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f0jqkf/eli5_why_do_1_in_3_americans_have_high_blood/ | {
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2
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"text": [
"High blood pressure is based many different factors including diet and lifestyle. High salt/low potassium diets typical of the American diet leads to retention of water and increased blood volume that increases pressure. Being overweight/obese (... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
fkkx1i | where do all the locusts swarms start? | Okay so I noticed in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the word there are an excessive amount of locusts swarming the desert, and I just wanna know where those locusts come from in such a short amount of time? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fkkx1i/eli5_where_do_all_the_locusts_swarms_start/ | {
"a_id": [
"fktbbll",
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"score": [
2,
6
],
"text": [
"They breed pretty fast and all the locusts non a huge area converge together to make a swarm.",
"Sometimes after a period of a lot of rain which leads to plenty of food, some kinds of grasshoppers will have their numbers... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
67rurj | what is going on with the "youtubeapocolypse" and what can we as the average viewer do about it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/67rurj/eli5_what_is_going_on_with_the_youtubeapocolypse/ | {
"a_id": [
"dgsqzg6"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Youtube has given the option to advertisers to choose what type of video's they want to show their ads on. A lot of video's are being marked as rude/offensive while not much is happening which causes many content creators to not get any ad revenu... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5r43yw | why do we experience headaches and stomachaches when we are stressed sometimes? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5r43yw/eli5_why_do_we_experience_headaches_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"dd4dn0r"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Stress causes your flight or fight reflex to kick in. This raises blood pressure and releases adrenaline. Both of these cause your symptoms. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
dgdsct | how does the brain distinquish between happy, sad or angry music/sounds? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dgdsct/eli5_how_does_the_brain_distinquish_between_happy/ | {
"a_id": [
"f3b06rq",
"f3b4rc8"
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"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Yes, music can sound sad without any words or direct associations. Most music is founded in the sounds of language. That's why it's so expressive. So a piece that sounds like someone saying something sad might make you feel ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
36hqlk | why do planets, systems, and galaxies revolve and orbit in a certain direction and what caused them to initially do so? (x-post from /r/askscience) | Furthermore, does this coincide with the theories of the Universe moving around a continuous loop? If so, could it be theorized that the dark matter of the Universe itself is a fluid, with galaxies, systems, and planets representing particles and orbital direction is caused by friction between dark matter and galaxies ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36hqlk/eli5_why_do_planets_systems_and_galaxies_revolve/ | {
"a_id": [
"cre1wif"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Not everything in them does orbit in one direction (at least on a solar system scale), the direction is pretty arbitrary, and the fact that it's flat is just what happens when the matter comes together with galaxies and solar systems etc. \n\n\nT... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmNXKqeUtJM"
]
] | |
83lek3 | why does crying and being sad make you so tired? [psychology] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/83lek3/eli5_why_does_crying_and_being_sad_make_you_so/ | {
"a_id": [
"dvj6tog"
],
"score": [
59
],
"text": [
"Emotional stress and trauma is both physically and mentally draining. Being overwhelmed in some cases can lead to blackouts. Tears, for example, obviously use water and potassium-so excessive crying can lead to dehydration. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
9s0x2z | why is freshly roasted coffee better than pre-packaged coffee? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9s0x2z/eli5_why_is_freshly_roasted_coffee_better_than/ | {
"a_id": [
"e8l8p5d",
"e8l8uhp"
],
"score": [
19,
8
],
"text": [
"There are several overlapping causes. First, after roasting, coffee outgasses for several days. Generally, you want to wait 24 hours after roasting so as not to have too much of these gasses. Then, many of the delicious ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.livescience.com/2737-surprising-impact-taste-smell.html",
"https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/all-about-coffee/aroma-and-flavour-composition-of-coffee/",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatility_(chemistry)"
]
] | ||
6sf511 | why do microwaves make my fish sticks mushy? | Not just fish sticks, but today I'm eating fish sticks and don't have access to an oven to reheat them and make them tasty and crispy, and I'm curious why we must suffer with microwaves making our food mushy. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6sf511/eli5_why_do_microwaves_make_my_fish_sticks_mushy/ | {
"a_id": [
"dlc8h25",
"dlcahym",
"dlcc7ap"
],
"score": [
5,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Microwaves heat food mostly by exciting the water molecules in it. Water can only be heated to 100C before it becomes water vapor. So, microwaves generally don't heat your food beyond that temperature. ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4sie3d | the theory that black holes can be used for time travel. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4sie3d/eli5_the_theory_that_black_holes_can_be_used_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"d59iepw",
"d59jouo",
"d59jp9x",
"d59jten",
"d59k18v",
"d59lf9a",
"d59m2v0",
"d59oo0c",
"d59pszr",
"d59qzk3",
"d59rleq",
"d59s0js",
"d59sqrw",
"d59tapc",
"d59tgbl",
"d59wvzw",
"d59xm8o",
"d59yty5",
"d59ywle",
"d59z862",
"d... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_timelike_curve"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=imagining+the+10th+dimension&&view=detail&mid=70BEB0AD4CAFBBD08B0C70BEB0AD4CAFBBD08B0C&FORM=VRDGAR"
],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.physicsoftheuniv... | ||
5aqsr8 | what is congress exactly? | As a Brit i hear people talk about Congress and how they're doing this and that but what exactly is Congress? Is it similar to our House of Lords? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5aqsr8/eli5what_is_congress_exactly/ | {
"a_id": [
"d9iinht",
"d9iitga"
],
"score": [
7,
6
],
"text": [
"Congress = Parliament\n\nSenate = House of Lords\n\nHouse = House of Commons",
"Congress is the US legislative branch. It's the equivalent to the British Parliament. Like Parliament, it has two chambers: the Senate and t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
26xazy | why do grocery carts slowly turn as you push them? | This always annoys me. I would like to know if there's a specific reason that grocery carts always seem to curve left as you push them or if it's just a design flaw. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/26xazy/eli5_why_do_grocery_carts_slowly_turn_as_you_push/ | {
"a_id": [
"chvcjvp",
"chvcq6m",
"chvcqr2"
],
"score": [
5,
4,
5
],
"text": [
"Not all of them, but most of them are broken ",
"The front wheels can turn so that when you push it in any direction it will turn as you wish... if you just shove it forward, there's nothing actuall... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2t1mbb | why are all adverts on porn sites of such poor quality? [nsfw] | Sure, there are a whole bunch of negative connotations associated with advertising on a porn site, but I'm surprised that the sheer volume of traffic hasn't attracted SOME kind of legitimate advertising.
Assuming you watch porn even semi-regularly, think of the number of times you've seen misspelled, poorly-photoshopp... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2t1mbb/eli5_why_are_all_adverts_on_porn_sites_of_such/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnuvisa",
"cnv34cf"
],
"score": [
8,
2
],
"text": [
"Sometimes advertisers purposely make their ads look like they're written by non-english speakers. I get spam on a daily basis with people pretending to be \"a young russian lady living in the boonies of ukraine. I love meeti... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5g9kya | why speeding up the video on youtube doesn't change the pitch but when the same thing is done using some other software the audio starts sounding like an alien? | Edit : Its how instead of why. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5g9kya/eli5why_speeding_up_the_video_on_youtube_doesnt/ | {
"a_id": [
"daqi66y",
"daqnufj",
"daqrg1c",
"daqtohw"
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"score": [
16,
2,
2,
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],
"text": [
"Sound is in the form of waves. Lower pitch is longer waves and higher pitch is shorter waves. When you speed up a piece of sound the time between the waves gets smaller and you e... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://i.imgur.com/UfIvg6L.jpg",
"http://i.imgur.com/waOaLeP.png",
"http://i.imgur.com/BNeebJA.jpg"
]
] | |
vvhnh | what is poe's law? | I've been looking up definitions online and can't seem to wrap my head around it. Can anyone give me a simpler explanation in more layman's terms with an example? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vvhnh/eli5_what_is_poes_law/ | {
"a_id": [
"c57z7ro"
],
"score": [
36
],
"text": [
"Poe's Law basically says that, from a rational viewpoint, it's very difficult to tell the difference between someone parodying an extremist view, and someone who actually practices that view.\n\nA prime example of Poe's Law in effect is Stephen ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3upa22 | second amendment: what is well - regulated? | As a European, it is hard to grasp the right to bear arms. Without blaming the US for having the Second Amendment, I just want to understand it. President Obama says he wants to do something about gun violence, but his chances are not that high (I guess).
The Second Amendment says 'a well-regulated millitia'. What do... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3upa22/eli5_second_amendment_what_is_well_regulated/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxgo0jv",
"cxgo196",
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"cxgsnnk",
"cxgv77b",
"cxh67fv"
],
"score": [
2,
9,
3,
4,
13,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"There is no single definition. People have been debating it for a LONG time, and will for as long as the document... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act#Categories_of_firearms_regulated",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Control_Act_of_1968#Prohibited_persons",
"http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/17/despite-lower-crime-rates-support-for-gun-rights-increases/... | |
3y377c | if cheetah extinction is considered inevitable due to lack of genetic diversity, then wouldn't any animal who reached low populations be doomed for extinction for same reason? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3y377c/eli5_if_cheetah_extinction_is_considered/ | {
"a_id": [
"cya2ujd",
"cyaoq93"
],
"score": [
157,
2
],
"text": [
"Yes, there is a minimum population below which it is impossible to recover without external aid. \n\nOn a related note, there is a minimum birth rate for a country. Below that rate the country's population will collapse... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4ecx86 | why eye contact feels so intense? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ecx86/eli5_why_eye_contact_feels_so_intense/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1z8l1i"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Probably a primal reaction to a possible threat, this is why you don't stare down primates(or smile i think, which is a sign of aggression because youre showing your teeth?). This could be entirely wrong lol"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
a9va6b | what creates the "burn feeling" from touching small open wounds (e.g. from ripping of skin at the finger)? | I always wondered what the pain from touching open wounds originates from.
I understand that missing skin can't be good for your body, but what exactly is "below" the outer skin surface?
Especially: Why does it BURN when anything (also water etc.) touches that wound?
& #x200B;
EDIT: Title's "of" should be "off". | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a9va6b/eli5_what_creates_the_burn_feeling_from_touching/ | {
"a_id": [
"ecmucsh",
"ecn5hdq"
],
"score": [
15,
14
],
"text": [
"When you cut your finger, your exposing your dermis, the layer of skin under your epidermis, (top layer of skin). You are exposing nerves that were under the skin unbothered. Now they are touching air, water, germs, finger... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2uql00 | what are the physical signs of a clinically dead human that indicate they are beyond saving via cpr or defibrillation | Let's say a disaster happens and life-saving resources are scarce. Rescue workers and paramedics must choose which clinically dead victims they apply their time and strength on. What are the signs that indicate there's is/isn't a chance? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2uql00/eli5_what_are_the_physical_signs_of_a_clinically/ | {
"a_id": [
"coar8z4",
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"coawnzr",
"coax56f",
"coaz82x"
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"score": [
48,
24,
6,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"One of the biggest situations that every emergency personnel dreads is having to play god.\n\nSituations you are talking about are wha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defibrillation"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4a71cv | why do commercial airlines rarely have accidents whereas private jets and planes are frequently involved in accidents? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4a71cv/eli5_why_do_commercial_airlines_rarely_have/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0xwlzl"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Because the commercial airlines usually have the stricter training requirements, the higher cutoff point and their pilots fly even more regularly."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
11mix3 | what is so bad about 'web scraping?' | It was briefly mentioned in a lecture and it sounds rather interesting. Why are people mostly opposed to it? How can this damage the business? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/11mix3/what_is_so_bad_about_web_scraping/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6nrm0x",
"c6nul96"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"_URL_0_\n\nIt is usually against the terms of service for many search engines because you are essentially bypassing their website, and therefore getting the same information without having been shown the ads that make the we... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_scraping#Legal_issues"
],
[]
] | |
42v3my | why do some coins have groove along the circumference, while others are completely smooth? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/42v3my/eli5_why_do_some_coins_have_groove_along_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"czdccoc",
"czdccvc",
"czdcec6",
"czdcj9k"
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"score": [
14,
4,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"The groves are a carryover from the time when coins were made of metal that had its own intrinsic value. People had a habit of shaving off a bit of every coin that passed through ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
d1flxm | why does the tension in tennis racquet strings reduces over time? why does the strings disorient while hitting the ball? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d1flxm/eli5_why_does_the_tension_in_tennis_racquet/ | {
"a_id": [
"ezl4lfs"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"They get stretched beyond the maximum elasticity threshold and get permanently deformed. If you see a slow mo of a racquet hitting a tennis ball, the force is insanely high"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3rhrw4 | how do modern projectors work ? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3rhrw4/eli5_how_do_modern_projectors_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwobgsj"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"It depends on the kind.\n\n/u/ModeratorsAreDouches touched on one kind. LCD projectors are a technology that first appeared in the 90's, and they're very good. \n\nAnother kind uses a DLP matrix instead. A DLP matrix is a grid that has a very ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
a2mz4s | why does chicago get so much more snow than nyc? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a2mz4s/eli5_why_does_chicago_get_so_much_more_snow_than/ | {
"a_id": [
"eazpg3x",
"eb0a13t"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"_URL_0_\n\nChicago is on the edge of Lake Michigan. Cold air comes down from Canada, picking up all the moisture from the lake and dumps it on the city.",
"Because Chicago is colder.\n\nIt's not because Chicago gets mor... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake-effect_snow"
],
[
"https://drought.unl.edu/archive/climographs/NewYorkCityANC.htm",
"https://drought.unl.edu/archive/climographs/ChicagoANC.htm"
]
] | |
3wz3un | why is it common to "fall through the world" in video games? | I'm a programmer, but I know nothing about game development. It would seem to me that making sure someone can't fall through a floor or what not should be trivial, so what's the deal? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wz3un/eli5_why_is_it_common_to_fall_through_the_world/ | {
"a_id": [
"cy020lr"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"For simplicity purposes, the \"location\" of a character might simply be a point with 3-dimensional coordinates. The floor is a collection of polygons that all touch each other. Determining whether or not your character is \"on the ground\" is si... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
79j3ok | why do crabs change shells? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/79j3ok/eli5_why_do_crabs_change_shells/ | {
"a_id": [
"dp2bs7r"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Same reason you need to change clothes - you grow larger and larger, and old stuff doesn't fit you anymore.\n\nEventually growth slows down a ton and you don't need to change very often."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3phft3 | when i'm sick, why does it smell and taste like there's a handful of dirty pennies in the back of my throat? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3phft3/eli5_when_im_sick_why_does_it_smell_and_taste/ | {
"a_id": [
"cw6apnt",
"cw6awrs",
"cw6ddav"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"When I'm sick I can smell iron over everything. You can put a scented candle right in front of me and it smells like metal",
"Read pennies as penises...was so confused. \n\nUmmmm, altered taste buds... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
mw3x0 | how can the value of things like currencies
and stocks go up and down in a short time? | I'm someone with no background in economics. I've always been puzzled about how news channels and newspapers can always give you the exact price of say, the US dollar, or an Apple share.
How can these values change so rapidly? More importantly, how are these changes calculated? Who calculates them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mw3x0/eli5_how_can_the_value_of_things_like_currencies/ | {
"a_id": [
"c34atqu",
"c34atqu"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"The value of something is the price that people are willing to pay for it.\n\nLets say you wanted to know the price of apples in a market. You can go and observe watch someone buying an apple for $1. You can then report in... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
blqfbe | why do mobile websites load, and load again, and change their spacing again? oops, and there's an ad. better jump the screen around a bit. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/blqfbe/eli5_why_do_mobile_websites_load_and_load_again/ | {
"a_id": [
"emqhn0j",
"emqpc5y",
"emqpmkn",
"emr8uuo"
],
"score": [
19,
22,
4,
4
],
"text": [
"The page is just loading. Some parts of a page, like text will load faster while videos and images and ads take slightly longer.",
"Can't speak for other developers, but in... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
22bfi4 | do our eyes really see everything "upside down"? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/22bfi4/eli5_do_our_eyes_really_see_everything_upside_down/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgl5odw",
"cgl5rki"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"The lens of your eye inverts the image when light passes through it, your brain uninverts the signal for you to use.",
"Yes, that's true. The image projected on your retina is upside-down, which your brain then flips.\n\... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
8u3hhg | - why does applying two layers of spf 30 sunblock give you less protection than one layer of spf 60 sunblock? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8u3hhg/eli5_why_does_applying_two_layers_of_spf_30/ | {
"a_id": [
"e1cdzc7",
"e1ctp06"
],
"score": [
6,
5
],
"text": [
"The chemicals coat/soak into the skin, at least certain types. Zinc-based sunblock that continues to be visible (white) and doesn’t “rub in” would be an exception.\n\nSo you’re not necessarily creating a double-thickness lay... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
ktfef | hand dominance | Why do we have it? Are we the only organisms to have it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ktfef/eli5_hand_dominance/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2n3kx2",
"c2n3kx2"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
" > Why do we have it?\n\nThere was some evolutionary advantage to specializing the functions of our hands. The \"smart\" hand could be more clever and quicker than the other one. With a smarter hand to manipulate stuff, we ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
8p8tk2 | why do some programs sort their numbers like 1,10,11,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 instead of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8p8tk2/eli5_why_do_some_programs_sort_their_numbers_like/ | {
"a_id": [
"e09bt5q",
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"e09buz5",
"e09bv8j",
"e09cfpw"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
39,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Think of the series of books sorted alphabetically. You begin to sort the books by the first letter of the title. If there is more than one book starting wit... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3zh7xm | why the west is friends with something like saudi arabia but always hostile towards russia | On paper, it's all about democracy, human rights etc, but why being friends with medieval country? Not only Russia, but Iran, China and other countries. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zh7xm/eli5_why_the_west_is_friends_with_something_like/ | {
"a_id": [
"cym3n9z",
"cym3yss",
"cym7651"
],
"score": [
15,
3,
8
],
"text": [
"I don't want to be *that* guy, but honestly it's oil. Saudi Arabia has access to a valuable material and Russia's oil access doesn't meet our standards. Not to mention the whole Cold War so tensions ar... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c4621.html",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_production"
],
[]
] | |
33sp25 | why doesnt oman have the same issues/crisis its southern neighbor yemen has? | its population is also a fraction of yemen despite being from the same geographic location. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33sp25/eli5_why_doesnt_oman_have_the_same_issuescrisis/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"The same reason a lot of countries in the region don't have the same issue as Yemen has. It's a different country with a much more popular leader in Sultan Qaboos who has created a stable country with a relatively great econ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
bqfgp2 | why are the vast majority of fruits around the same, handheld size? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bqfgp2/eli5_why_are_the_vast_majority_of_fruits_around/ | {
"a_id": [
"eo3ylmh",
"eo40v2n",
"eo4tb7w"
],
"score": [
13,
6,
3
],
"text": [
"They are not. Most fruits are small, but the one we have bred for human consumption are the ones you usually think about.",
"Artificial selection. Alot of the fruit you see is the result of people ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
apn10e | why can't we engineer or or artificially increase the amount of t-cells a person has to combat cancer? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/apn10e/eli5why_cant_we_engineer_or_or_artificially/ | {
"a_id": [
"eg9pzwq",
"eg9q9qr"
],
"score": [
9,
2
],
"text": [
"We can. And we did. It's called CAR-T cell therapy. ",
"From a technological standpoint, just this past decade were we finally able to create our own human cells, t-cells are the next step. I’m pretty sure that T-cells d... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4634f0 | why does walking on sand make your feet hurt? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4634f0/eli5_why_does_walking_on_sand_make_your_feet_hurt/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0203ue",
"d0208je"
],
"score": [
8,
4
],
"text": [
"Because you are engaging a whole set of muscles to stay balanced that you don't often engage when walking on a stable surface. If you were to only walk on sand, you'd get \"fit\" and you wouldn't have this experience as muc... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
7xn2ie | what happens when you die pregnant? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7xn2ie/eli5_what_happens_when_you_die_pregnant/ | {
"a_id": [
"du9k88z",
"du9kgxo",
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"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"if the baby is developed enough to survive on it's own or with human/machine assistance then a c section can be performed to save the baby. if not then the baby dies with the mother. assuming that the... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4br22w | why does rust form from moisture? and how does moisture and rust break down incredibly strong steel? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4br22w/eli5_why_does_rust_form_from_moisture_and_how/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1bm0v8",
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"score": [
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],
"text": [
"It's a simple chemical reaction that water, and in particular, salty water, help with. And it breaks down iron in the same way that a campfire breaks down wood - chemically.\n\nSteel and iron contain iron molecules, which un... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.amazon.com/Rust-The-Longest-Jonathan-Waldman/dp/1451691599"
]
] | ||
am33sy | us pulls out from treaty with russia that's been centerpiece of nuclear arms control since cold war. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/am33sy/eli5_us_pulls_out_from_treaty_with_russia_thats/ | {
"a_id": [
"efix3bw"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The Russians were not abiding by the treaty, according to the US. So, after 6 months of notice, the US is moving ahead with weapons deployments that were stopped when the treaty was signed back in the 1980s."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2xjxon | as there're so many good, cheaper cable manufacturers out there, how can apple still sell its lightning cable? | Look at Belkin or Moshi, for example. Their cables are durable as hell compared to the official Apple Lightning cable that only lasts like 3 months. They're around the same price or even cheaper, and they even display in the ver Apple Store. How can they still sell the official cable? Why do people buy it over the toug... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2xjxon/eli5_as_therere_so_many_good_cheaper_cable/ | {
"a_id": [
"cp0qvyk"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Many people believe that the higher price something is, the better it is, regardless of the actual technical merits involved. Apple has name recognition with Apple, and not everyone has heard of Moshi. Other than sounding like a pokemon, many h... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4i79xk | why do wrecking balls, and possibly other wrecking equipment spray water from the top? | I'm watching a building get wrecked and the wrecking ball is spraying water. Why? I assume because part of it works via hydraulics. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4i79xk/eli5_why_do_wrecking_balls_and_possibly_other/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2voki5",
"d2vokrv",
"d2voky9"
],
"score": [
2,
7,
18
],
"text": [
"If you mean machines that cut into hard surfaces (such as stone saws, drills, etc.,) it is to lubricate the cutting surface and cool it. Otherwise, the cutting edge will heat and weaken. ",
"It m... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
fwa9w9 | how the video app zoom is dangerous/not secure | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fwa9w9/eli5_how_the_video_app_zoom_is_dangerousnot_secure/ | {
"a_id": [
"fmndco7",
"fmnf37o"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"There is no security for your email or account attached to it. So if someone wanted to, with Zoom, they can get into your videos and cloud storage.",
"Zoom doesn't have end-to-end encryption. A bank web page has end-to... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
6cf7nj | how do cameras take videos at 3000-4000 frames per second, while still having a shutter speed of 1/100? | Hi.
So I just saw this gif on the front page: _URL_0_. (It's the ladybug unfolding its wings)
I've dabbled in some amateur videography and generally I've been told to maintain my shutter speed at 1/30 so that it lines up somewhat close to the standard frame rate of 24 fps.
But how does a camera take these things? How... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6cf7nj/eli5_how_do_cameras_take_videos_at_30004000/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhu7leg",
"dhu7myl"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"That's not the shutter speed, it's the effective speed of the video. Since it was recorded at 3000fps and played back at 30fps, we're seeing events at 1/100 of the original speed.",
"Sped up by a factor of 100 so that 30... | [] | [
"https://i.imgur.com/9TUUzFA.gifv"
] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4qtgxr | why do clothes dried outside on a line in the sun smell so much better than clothes from a dryer? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4qtgxr/eli5_why_do_clothes_dried_outside_on_a_line_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"d4vsvn7"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"**Cause**: The damp environment inside a washing machine tends to cause a buildup of mildew, especially if you use a lot of [soap](_URL_1_). When you dry clothes outside, [ultraviolet rays](_URL_2_) naturally kill most of the mildew. However, whe... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://laundry.reviewed.com/features/why-your-washing-machine-smells-and-how-to-clean-it",
"http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/laundry/mildew-smell-washing-machine",
"http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE63300.pdf"
]
] | ||
3577lq | why do i have to close unrelated apps/programs when installing an app/program update on my mac and/or pc? | I just received an update for Microsoft Word on my Macbook Air, and it forced me to close Safari. I don't see the direct correlation between Safari & Word, so I was just wondering why I should have to close one to update the other. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3577lq/eli5_why_do_i_have_to_close_unrelated/ | {
"a_id": [
"cr1obxg",
"cr1u7ng"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Internet browsers can often use plugins from other software/suites e.g. Microsoft Word/office. If the browser is open during the update (i.e. the plug-in is busy) then this might cause a failure to update microsoft office co... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5ybshi | why is each coin flip 50% heads or tails, regardless of the x flips that came before? | I am having a debate with a couple of friends, and one of them does not believe that after 10, 100, or 1000 coin flips that all happen to consecutively land on heads, the next coin flip immediately after is independent from the ones that were executed earlier.
Furthermore, he claims that after X heads in a row, it is... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ybshi/eli5_why_is_each_coin_flip_50_heads_or_tails/ | {
"a_id": [
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"depenhh"
],
"score": [
3,
5,
2,
2,
2,
3,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because each flip is an entirely independent event -- what happened on... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler's_fallacy"
],
[],
[]
] | |
3ti0p8 | why are so many more olympic athletes caught using steroids, compared with other sports tournaments such as the world cup or the nba? | It seems like during every Olympics, there is a major drug scandal with many players being stripped of medals and getting banned. How come this happens much less frequently in other major sports tournaments? Is the Olympics particularly 'dirty' in this regard, or does the Olympics simply have the most stringent drug te... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ti0p8/eli5_why_are_so_many_more_olympic_athletes_caught/ | {
"a_id": [
"cx6btnp",
"cx6c4ah"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"There is a number of factors at play here:\n\n**Individual vs team sports**\nThe Olympics are the world's biggest event for individual sports (athletics, wrestling, gymnastics, etc.) while most team sports have more \"import... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
ccery5 | how is it possible for a 700 trillion dollar derivitive bubble to exist? | I just read about the 700 trillion dollar exposure in the derivitive market, but I cant wrap my head arhound how such an absurd amount of debt could exist. The entire U.S. GDP was around 19 trillion last year, so how could a literally unpayable amount of debt even exist?
Secondly if this bubble does burst someday what... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ccery5/eli5_how_is_it_possible_for_a_700_trillion_dollar/ | {
"a_id": [
"etmf48g",
"etmfpcl",
"etmfyqs",
"etmncma",
"etmvx5h"
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"score": [
19,
6,
5,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"You and I make a $100 bet on the Super Bowl. I make a smaller side bet with Joe in the opposite direction so, if I lose our bet, I don't lose so much, Joe do... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/aapl/option-chain"
]
] | |
13rkpl | why does olive oil pass through plastic containers? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/13rkpl/why_does_olive_oil_pass_through_plastic_containers/ | {
"a_id": [
"c76kncg"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"What? It cant pass through plastic."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1x419c | why don't people struggling to survive eat the leaves of plants? | In various shows with people trying to survive in a jungle or some kind of environment, the stranded always try to find some sort of meat/water. Why don't they just eat the plants until they find some larger food/water source?
They always complain about not having anything to eat but all around them are plants (with ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x419c/eli5why_dont_people_struggling_to_survive_eat_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cf801f9"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The major problem is that human digestive systems are not designed to get protein from leaves and grasses.\n\nAnimals that can get protein from these plants often keep food in their digestive system longer (some of these animals have multiple sto... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1nu71n | why can john boehner prevent from a vote a bill that the majority of the house supports? | It seems like there should be a way to bring bills to the floor for a vote. The discharge petition option takes a minimum of 10 days.
I'm familiar with the intricacies of the Senate procedures, and those procedures were covered very well by the media in the past few years. But there's not a lot of detail in the me... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nu71n/eli5_why_can_john_boehner_prevent_from_a_vote_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccm4xvs"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"the Hastert rule. the best way to describe it is it's a unspoken tradition for the GOP since the mid 90's which states that unless the majority of the republicans favor a bill, it will never reach the floor for a vote.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastert_Rule"
]
] | |
426xwr | just like the light spectrum, is there a range of odors that we can smell? can we classify odors on a scale? | For light, we classify them on the basis of their wavelength and frequency. Is there a 'frequency' for odors? Can we plot them on a scale just like the visible spectrum? Because just like the human eye can't perceive UV light, there are some odors that dogs can smell which humans can't. Does this have something to do w... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/426xwr/eli5_just_like_the_light_spectrum_is_there_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cz82q5s"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"The short answer is no.\n\n\"Smell\" is caused by a chemical reaction between gasses or tiny particles in the air and receptors in your nose. When certain receptors are triggered, your brain interprets that as a smell. You can only smell things t... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
27m8ox | what's the point of finding planets light years away? | Will we even reach that far? Why can't we spend money on improving what we have? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27m8ox/eli5_whats_the_point_of_finding_planets_light/ | {
"a_id": [
"ci25o97",
"ci265zl",
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"score": [
3,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Because 1. It is not really that expensive compared to other Government programs. 2. Science begets science. We might learn things applicable here on earth. 3. We are killing the earth as fast as we ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://useconomy.about.com/od/usfederalbudget/p/nasa_budget_cost.htm"
]
] | |
cithtx | why is the inflation target a range of 2-3%? what is bad about it dropping below this range? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cithtx/eli5_why_is_the_inflation_target_a_range_of_23/ | {
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"score": [
3,
10,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"The problem is that you can then get deflation, where prices actually decrease in value while this does initially seem like a good thing it can have some really serious consequenc... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://youtu.be/-dnKdCwCw8o"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4fsgzz | meaning of polynomial-time in relation to the travelling salesman problem. | What is considered a polynomial-time solution to the travelling salesman problem?
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4fsgzz/eli5_meaning_of_polynomialtime_in_relation_to_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2bjz8e"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"As far as I no, nothing is. There aren't any polynomial-time solutions to the travelling salesman problem and it's still considered to be a (EDIT) non-*deterministic* polynomial problem."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3k6iz3 | why do so many television shows aimed at young children feature non human characters? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3k6iz3/eli5_why_do_so_many_television_shows_aimed_at/ | {
"a_id": [
"cuv6yul"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Young kids like non-human characters a lot. I once heard an anecdote that Sesame Street was originally going to have Muppets and humans NOT interact with each other, because producers thought it would be confusing for kids. In focus groups, kids ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2arlrg | if oxygen is flamable then why doesn't the whole sky catch on fire? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2arlrg/eli5_if_oxygen_is_flamable_then_why_doesnt_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ciy1lb8",
"ciy1n7y",
"ciy1qxc"
],
"score": [
13,
7,
6
],
"text": [
"Oxygen itself isn't flammable. It's the oxidizing agent. Pure oxygen is dangerous when it's around a fuel because that fuel will very easily ignite in the presence of pure oxygen. Remember fire needs t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4e1cyf | why do most apps require access to phone calls and media when they have nothing to do with it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4e1cyf/eli5_why_do_most_apps_require_access_to_phone/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1wa21l",
"d1waco2"
],
"score": [
42,
19
],
"text": [
"Normally to determine if you get a phone call through while using the app so they can handle it appropriately in their app. I'm assuming it's the same with media (i.e. you have music playing when you open the app).\n\nThis... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
28tnds | how does elon musk, the ceo of spacex, keep on making money when it seems his company only spends it? | Thanks in advance to whoever answers. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/28tnds/eli5_how_does_elon_musk_the_ceo_of_spacex_keep_on/ | {
"a_id": [
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"cieeg6x",
"ciejfz9",
"cieoj8d"
],
"score": [
11,
15,
18,
7,
2
],
"text": [
"Because he's also CEO and Chief Product Architect of Tesla Motors. ",
"SpaceX isn't necessarily making money. It is actually mostly privately funded by... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX#Funding"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
aznxfv | negative and positive controls in a scientific experiment. and all the other countrols. | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aznxfv/eli5_negative_and_positive_controls_in_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"ei92o0f",
"ei93d5x"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"I don't think you know what controls are. A control group is one that keeps within a set of parameters, while other groups have the variable introduced. Like 50 mice (not really a realistic number), 25 are kept in a cage, 25... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
do97b3 | what does “packet loss” on an online game mean? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/do97b3/eli5_what_does_packet_loss_on_an_online_game_mean/ | {
"a_id": [
"f5kxldm",
"f5kxol2",
"f5kzf0k"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
9
],
"text": [
"When you play the game, the copy on your computer sends packets of information to the central server. From there packets containing updates from the other players are sent to you.\n\nIt turns out that ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
55i253 | in the 60s, scientists in movies and tv were manly, respected men who happened to know a lot about science; by the 80s, scientists were portrayed as weak, geeky and socially hopeless. what happened, and when? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/55i253/eli5_in_the_60s_scientists_in_movies_and_tv_were/ | {
"a_id": [
"d8arf3l"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"JFK was elected in 1960. Recognizing the importance of the \"space race,\" and the significance of scientific and technological development, immediately began a program of fostering education at all levels. Science and technology flourished, and ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3asdd9 | why are storms that last for centuries not possible on earth? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3asdd9/eli5_why_are_storms_that_last_for_centuries_not/ | {
"a_id": [
"csfip38",
"csfjo9f",
"csfmg9y"
],
"score": [
5,
4,
4
],
"text": [
"Less ridiculous amounts of energy. Some of the forces that drive those storms (which thenselves are as large or larger than earth) are just beyond the scale of our planet.",
"I'm assuming you're ref... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1ws3y4 | why don't games like draw something and words with friends break copyright laws of games like pictionary and scrabble? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ws3y4/why_dont_games_like_draw_something_and_words_with/ | {
"a_id": [
"cf4vzrx",
"cf4w2rf"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
" If I remember correctly, you cannot explicitly copyright the rules to a game, only the way that the rules are presented. I could be wrong, however, as I've heard this from people making retroclones of RPGs.",
"_URL_0_\... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16enap/eli5_why_words_with_friends_is_not_being_sued_by/"
]
] | ||
2nusig | why do grocery stores let you do self-checkout when that makes it so easy to steal? | I never understood this... one could easily steal, in particular by ringing produce through as other produce that is much cheaper (eg ringing bell peppers through as bananas). | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2nusig/eli5_why_do_grocery_stores_let_you_do/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmh1oou",
"cmh1ten",
"cmh46ia",
"cmh57pf"
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"score": [
28,
7,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Grocery stores keep track of the estimated cost of theft. They have almost certainly determined that the cost savings associated with self-checkout are greater than any incrementa... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
k1iuq | how credit works | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/k1iuq/how_credit_works/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2gstqy",
"c2gstqy"
],
"score": [
4,
4
],
"text": [
"If you don't have enough money, I can lend you some money for a while, but I want you to pay me back 10% extra than I gave you as payment for letting you use my money.",
"If you don't have enough money, I can lend you so... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
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86qijq | why do probiotic supplements need to be taken daily? | Surely if you are adding 1 - 50 billion new bacteria to your gut you shouldn't need to do this daily. How fast are they dying? Is it due to factors like high amounts of sugar, yeast and stress in people's lives that make it advisable to take a daily probiotic?
Edit: Thank you all for your answers. It seems it is a muc... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/86qijq/eli5_why_do_probiotic_supplements_need_to_be/ | {
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"Your gut is a class that has a session everyday. Your native flora are the students that show up to class each day.; they all have their preferred seats, an... | [] | [] | [
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